The Labor enquirer., 1887-07-16
THE "DEFEAT, OF THE REDS.

Archbishop Corrigan is credited with pre-
dieting that the next meeting after McGlynn
accommodation would show his weakness.
Said he:
"No one will attend the Anti-Poverty meet
ings after that except the reds and they ar
but few in number and not to be feared. Nc
Glynn will find himself isolated
The news of the meeting was suppresse
las usual by the capitalist press and tele
graph. Now that it has come to hand throug
the mail we see that we are justified in callin
it the greatest, the most wildly enthusiast
meeting ever held on the continent. Says tn
New York WoyH..
Although the meeting OF the Anti Povert,
society was not to begin until s O'Clock th
doors of the Academy were opened at
o'clock, but long before that hour every. ap
proach to an entrance of the great building
was surrounded by an impenetrable throng O
men and women, and when at length tn,
doors were thrown open Irving place ant
Fourteenth street were almost impossible
Then, after those nearest to the doors hac
surged into the Academy and filled it full, the
strong force Of police in attendance had all il
could do to keep the people still outside from
forcing their way in and crowding the build
ing to suffocation. 1t was in vain that the
policemen told the people that Irving Hall had
been flung open for the accommodation o.
those who could not get into the Academy
and that DIR. McGlynn would speak in both
buildings. Everybody wanted to get into the
Academy, and tothing short Of the actual
closing Of me doors could keep the people
out
The interior Of The Academy presented a
remarkable sight. Every seat, from the top
most bench in the family circle to the long
rows Of chairs placed within the space sci
apart for the orchestra, was occupied. Every
seat upon the stage was also filled, and crowd.
filled the standing room in every passage.wa,
and door way of the auditorium. Such wa.
the appearance OF the Academy before
o'clock. Even then the pent.up enthusiasm
Of the vast audience broke forth at times il
occasional outbursts of applause as some rec
ognized member Of St. Stephens church. who
has identified himself prominently with the
fortunes Of Dr. McGlynn, was caught sight Of
Chairman Gahan proceeded with the open
ing address and made pungent references te
the pope and Archbishop Corrigan, and cheer.
hearty and long rang out in trumpet note.
whenever he mentioned McGlynns name
But when the excommunicated priest himsel
appeared on the stage at S:24, preceded by
little boys who strewed flowers in his path, the
building fairly shook with the mighty outburs
of applause. The vast audience rose like :
breaker on the seashore and hurled perfec
thunder of acclaim against the stage Their
it remained standing, waving hats and hand
kerchiefs and United States flags, and shouted
itself hoarse for fully ten minutes.
Meanwhile a little girl in white who had
tried to throw huge bouquet upon the stage
from one Of the front rows of orchestra chairs
was lifted bodily over the heads of the people
in front and placed upon the stage, where She
stood .confounded for moment Atthe same
time young lady in black, carrying another
huge bouquet, elbowed her way through the
crowd standing at the right wing Of the stage
and, crossing the intervening space, knelt al
the priests feet just as the little girl walk &c
timidly up from the front and handed him hel
tribute with little bow. The audience wen
fairly wild over these incidents and continued
to shout while bouquets and cut flowers were
rained upon the stage from every side.
When tranquility was restored simply be-
cause the audience had shouted itself out o
breath, the Concordia Chorus sang "Marchins
to Freedom" But by the time that was fin
ished the audience had recovered its breatl
and it began to applaud vociferously again
The taking up Of the collection afforded an
other breathing spell, but before that was com
pleted the appearance of Henry George a
S:44 was the signal for another outburst o
applause, mingled with cries of "Hi. Hi.'
which lasted fully two minutes and in which
Dr. McGlynn joined by clapping his hands a
heartily as the rest. At the suggestion o
some one in the audience three cheers 70
Henry George were given, and thus wount
up that outburst Of applause.
When finally Chairman Gahan introduced
DR.. McGlynn as "the ideal American priest
the audience rose again and cheered anc
shouted and applauded until arrested by ac
tual exhaustion. But the enthusiasm re
mained undiminished- As soon as the peopl
had caught their br cath the applause brok
out afresh and interrupted DR.. McGlynn agail
and again during the course Of his address.
This is peculiar species Of isolation an,
the "reds' will not weep over hundred sue
defeats.